City Parks Foundation Announces SummerStage at the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk

City Parks Foundation Announces SummerStage at the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk

NEW YORK, Aug. 27, 2017 : City Parks Foundation, in partnership with the Mayor Bill de Blasio, City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Brooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams, and Council Member Mark Treyger, are proud to announce that the 2017 season of SummerStage will be expanded to add 4 free shows to take place at the Ford Amphitheater at Coney Island Boardwalk in Brooklyn this September.

The 4-show run will kick off on September 8 with British songstress Marsha Ambrosius and rising R&B singer-songwriter Ro James. On September 9, soulful R&B hitmaker Freddie Jackson and neo-soul star Angie Stone will bring their decades of hits to Ford Amphitheater. On September 15, the "First Lady of Gospel Music" and recent viral-video sensation Shirley Caesar will perform with dynamic performing artist, conductor and musical director Damien Sneed. Closing out the run on September 17, EPMD and Slick Rick The Ruler will co-headline with Black Moon and Smif N Wessun performing a night of classic Hip Hop jams.

"We are thrilled to partner with the City of New York to bring free live music and entertainment to the Coney Island community as an extension of our SummerStage season," said City Parks Foundation's Executive Director Heather Lubov. "For years we have invigorated Coney Island's parks and coastlines with our free sports, education, and community development programs, and we are proud to now bring SummerStage, New York City's largest outdoor performing arts festival, to this neighborhood for the first time."

"It's so important to increase affordable access to cultural activities for New Yorkers across the five boroughs, and we're proud to support the City Parks Foundation in bringing free SummerStage concerts to Coney Island," said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

"I thank Mayor de Blasio, Council Speaker Mark-Viverito, Council Member Treyger and City Parks Foundation for our collaborative efforts that are bringing free concerts to the People's Playground this summer," said Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams. "There is a rich tradition of free summer concerts in Coney Island, and it is my honor to serve as a host for these upcoming evenings of entertainment."

"I am proud to have fought for the return of one of Coney Island's most beloved traditions, free public concerts, with the support of City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito, Borough President Eric Adams, and Mayor Bill de Blasio," said New York City Council Member Mark Treyger. "I thank City Parks Foundation for stepping up when we needed them most, ensuring that residents in Coney Island and beyond will have access to the free, high-quality programming that SummerStage is known for. The four free concerts this season in the Ford Amphitheater have something for everyone to enjoy."

"City Parks Foundation is dedicated to providing every New Yorker with free and open access to performing arts experiences in their neighborhood," said Erika Elliott, Executive Artistic Director of City Parks Foundation. "Having presented nearly 100 shows in 18 different parks this SummerStage season, we are thrilled to work with the City to bring our diverse range of SummerStage performers to Coney Island."